Victory goes to those who show up: Why all conservatives need to stay in the fight

2015 wasnotkind to the Conservatives, so one of the main questions for liberty loving, small government oriented Canadians is what to do with the Conservative Party going forward.

There’s been a lot of chatter and a lot of advice coming from outsiders, and much of it is utter rubbish.

Remember, the Conservatives are not a rump party. They were not reduced to two seats or to third place status as the Liberals were in 2011 left with only 34 seats.

They hold 99 seats and took almost 32% of the popular vote across Canada, with seats in every part of Canada except Atlantic Canada.

So the Conservative Party is not in crisis mode.

They have a strong front bench of critics starting with interim leader Rona Ambrose. They have strong leadership contenders from both inside and outside of the party.

The party is in good shape and the movement is growing. Just look at The Rebel literally starting in our living rooms – Ezra and I – back in February and now we’re a growing concern. Groups like Conservative Voice are popping up to push fiscal conservatism, adding to groups like the Fraser Institute and Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

The conservative movement is in good shape.

But another reason not to listen to people that say the party needs to be the Progressive Conservatives again and shed those pro-lifers or the religious right or this group or that group is that you don’t build something by subtracting from it.

Ronald Reagan used to talk about the legs of the conservative stool, saying you need all the legs to hold the stool up properly. It’s a good analogy.

Over the next little while, the movement needs to grow and become stronger. It’s up to the movement and its various parts to sell their fellow Canadians on their message. The Conservative Party is simply the electoral vehicle.

Rather than shut out this group or that group we need to find where each group has common ground and work together. The Liberals didn’t win just because of Justin Trudeau’s smile or hair or his promises, they won because progressives, including many New Democrats, united behind him as a way to advance their issues - maybe not all of their issues but enough.

There will always be those criticizing this or that part for not being pure enough but those people are happier to wish for the perfect rather than compromise and take the good.

Yes, you can compromise too much – but we aren’t there yet. And I’d rather compromise a little than let progressives rule the roost unfettered.

So as you look to 2016, don’t despair. It’s a time of rebuilding for conservatives across the country.

Where Trump is concerned, he brings far more credibility to the table than Hillary. Hillary is trying to sell herself as a social-democrat, which is utter bullshit and everyone (who can get over that Hillary has a vagina) knows it. She learned how to lie by watching her husband. And since Bill is sociopath (liar, rapist, pervert, etc.) can there be any doubt that, where the Clinton’s marriage is concerned, it’s a case of birds of a feather. Hillary’s lesbian shenanigans aside, she is, likely, more conservative than most of the Republican field. So, since there is no doubt that Hillary will be elected (because she has a vagina) in 2016, it’s the Democrats who are in for a rude awakening.

Andrew, they said the same crap about Reagan in the 80’s, “Oh he’s only appealing to the rednecks. Oh he’s just an actor from Hollywood. Oh he’ll never win.” And they said the same crap about Mike Harris in the 90’s, “Oh he looks like a used car salesman. Ontario voters are too sophisticated to vote for a redneck like him.” They were full of shit then and you’re full of shit now. Trump 2016

Trump is running as a populist and doing a hell of a great job of it. What he’s doing is he’s standing at the podium and acting as a conduit for the anger that the majority of Americans are feeling. How many Americans right now are screaming at Obama? Every last one of them. But he’s in his final term, so NFRG. It’s weird that Americans would embrace a billionaire when they wouldn’t embrace Romney. (who many believed concealed the fact that he is a billionaire as well.) But they are doing it because Trump is feeling their anger. So, who are the angry Americans that are finding so much appeal in Trump? I suspect that Trump’s support crosses party lines. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents – especially Independents – all see that Trump feels their anger and they are showing their support for him. The Iowa Caucus is coming, so it will soon be clear how all this will play out. One thing that is certain is that Jeb Bush is finished. There is the hope that if enough of his rivals drop out, he will pick up their support. But Trump has already put a bullet between Bush’s eyes over his “skin in the game” comment about Iraq. Trump responded very effectively by saying, “We didn’t we have skin in Iraq? $2 trillion spent; thousands of casualties – almost ten thousand dead; and a huge amount of political capital deployed…” Trump proved that Bush is clueless on Iraq, and everything else for that matter. Ted Cruz is a strong challenger, but I don’t think he’s strong enough. But for Trump, a strong showing in Iowa will lead him into New Hampshire, where he will without a doubt crush everyone.

" In Trump’s case, he’s going to tell the truth and he doesn’t care what people will think of him or what he says. That pretty much explains why so many are attracted to his campaign"

Trump is a prime example of everything that’s wrong with modern Big Conservatism. He’s appealing to people that would have already voted Right, working class and the so-called “precariat” or “lumpenproletariat”. He’s profoundly alienating to the swing voters the Right needs to attract to be viable, and he’s successfully swung the election from core issues into fringe sloganeering. It’s actually a sign of how desperate for talent the Right actually is, that that third of the Republican core has developed a messiah complex/personality cult over such a chump. I wouldn’t put most of what he says as “truth”, not without the quotation marks or some other demarcation of irony. The simple fact that he merely insults anyone that dare question his tales, instead of tabling actual facts to back himself up, is worrying. That his fans do not demand the truth from him, merely more slogans, is moreso.

Trump will have his rear end handed to him, and inevitably his fans will blame the “media party”. No, he was just an oaf that doesn’t even realize he’s being made fun of.

The information about Baird came through Anonymous. (Yeah, that’s really reliable.) Though nothing was released (there were claims that there was a security report filed through Foreign Affair and CSIS, which was said to have been intercepted, as well as a mobile phone video) some claim is may have had something to do Baird’s sudden retirement announcement, as well as rumors that there was some conflict between Baird and Harper. But over what no one could confirm what the matter was about, or if there was a whiff of scandal attached to it.. When the Prime Minister is the last to know about a senior cabinet minister leaving, that may speak volumes. In any case, Baird joined the boards of Barrick Gold and Canadian Pacific, as well becoming an associate partner in a very large law firm. You could say that Baird has entered the realm of NFRG, given the positions he’s joined.

AB Patriot… NFRG… I like it. I’m stealing it. And not a single fuck was given that day. Didn’t know we could say fuck here either until just now. So that’s cool. Also had NO IDEA about the Baird rumours until you just tipped me off. So… well then. Guess we have a new contender for the title of Canadian Milo! John Baird, come on down! Wear it proud John. Learn from Milo. Use it to your advantage! NFRG!!!!

NFRG. No Fucks R’ Given. Call it the ultimate non-PC term that defines those who don’t care what other people think. In Trump’s case, he’s going to tell the truth and he doesn’t care what people will think of him or what he says. That pretty much explains why so many are attracted to his campaign. There are those who say that such an approach brings out the worst in people. Actually, the only reason it brings out the worst in people it because they learn that they have been lied to. The question is can people handle the truth?

Honestly, I don’t think it would work. Milo has the advantage of NFRG on his side; he’s unrepentant, intelligent, and vicious in his arguments. Kenney, on the other hand, wants to be liked and elected, the old fashioned way. If you’re looking for a Trump out of Kenney, good luck with that. Trump has NFRG on his side; he has too much money, influence, and a built-in cult of personality going for him. As for Baird, he’d be outstanding. First off, the guy is freakishly tall and has matinee idol looks. (JT looks more like a Disney Prince.) Second, he has this big, loud voice that just blows over everyone. Third, the guy can think on his feet – no matter how crazy the crazy is he’s selling, he can push it hard. If you’re looking for a gay conservative leader, he maybe your choice…except Baird is not that conservative. Social-conservatives will run from him. And there’s the matter of his sudden resignation – so sudden even Harper had to find out second-hand. Rumours; yes, there are rumours and allegations about Baird’s sudden departure.

Oh Sheldon, you’ve gone and turned your back on me because I have stubbornly refused to play nicely with the liberal kiddies. You know what happens when you play nicely with them Sheldon? They pretend to be victims and slowly construct speech codes and other codes of conduct that have you tip-toeing around the egg-shells of their disingenuous “feelings”, and this happens ever so slowly and subtly, like the analogy of the boiling frog where the frog in the pot of water doesn’t notice the rise in temperature until it’s too late to jump out. The time for tip-toeing is over Sheldon. Some of us are putting on our tap-dancing shoes, and we’re about to make us some omelettes. And you know the thing about making omelette’s Sheldon? That’s right… you can’t make an omelette without breaking some liberal faces… I mean… some eggs. The conservative movements in Canada have suffered from an emotional deficit for far too long Sheldon. The time has come to show some passion for life and for what matters… for winning. Your Mr. Spock intellectual diplomacy has failed. We need Captain Kirk’s passionate boots on the ground.

I was not trying to make the case for bipartisanship. I am trying to get you to think about what ‘kicking Liberal ass’ means. Politics is not a blood sport. It requires a brain, rationality, influence, and dare I say popular appeal. I don’t think you have any good ideas when it comes to how the conservative movement should go ahead and be successful. You seem to be good at communicating your emotional distaste for the Liberal party. While I understand that distaste I don’t think repeating your adverse feelings to progressivism and liberal sentiments serves any other purpose other than to give you a simpletons satisfaction. I am sure you are an intelligent person I just want to read something from you that was produced by your intellect and not just an emotional reaction.

Milo Yiannopoulos is quite the character, no doubt about that. But keep in mind he’s a wildly articulate version of Ann Coulter, so he does enjoy throwing bombs and starting fires. He also has the advantage being gay (and a really fey one at that) and dealing with feminist radicals and Islamists. What are they going to do with him? He’s not exactly a member of the patriarchy, because he’s gay, therefore, a victim. And Islamists can’t tear into him because in doing so they will reveal everything that really is bad about Islam. I’d say that being gay (and really, really proud of it) makes Milo virtually bullet-proof to progressives’ attacks. Feminists can’t play the victim card around him, because he’s representative of the biggest victim group there is. (In the minds of progressives, anyway.) They can’t guilty trip on Milo because he finds vaginas (and maybe other lady parts) disgusting and he doesn’t want to be near one – ever. Milo has all the respectability of a street gang fight. Kenney is not inclined to do this because he likes the respectability that comes with his officialdom. Kenney believes in personal advancement via glad-handing and smoozing. I really don’t think he has the balls to do what Milo does. John Baird, on the other hand, could. But we’ll have to see what he decides to do.

Unless Kenney comes out as gay and becomes the Canadian Milo Yiannopoulos, at which point he’s unbeatable. Christ, he should do this even if he’s really straight just to save us all from the hell of Trulander! Kenney! Do it for your country bro!

He can reconcile his concealment of his homosexuality by using a page from Trulander’s playbook: blame Harper. He can say he had to maintain that lock-step with Harper’s centrist positions, as you so eloquently illustrated. You asked if a gay Kenney can withstand all the slings and arrows… he has a role model in Milo Yiannopoulos (@nero on Twitter).

Milo is:
- openly and flamboyantly GAY (he prefers black men)
- devoutly Catholic (yes the priests got to him when he was young)
- pro-life (antagonizes feminists daily)
- against gay marriage (and gay culture in general – Milo is complicated)
- pro capital punishment (I think – he likes guns anyway)
- a successful media celebrity (writes for Breitbart; acclaimed by Drudge)
- able to withstand CONSTANT slings and arrows (SJW attack campaigns against him are legendary)
- impervious to accusations of hypocrisy because he walks the walk and MURDERS in debates
- backed ferociously by thousands of social conservatives (just like me)

So if Kenney is gay, he just needs to become the Canadian Milo, and it would be fabulous. And Lord Black needs to become the Canadian Trump. Do I have to solve all these problems myself? Come on! ;)

Although this is against my better judgment (posting an email address on a comment board is an incredibly stupid thing to do) you have successfully baited me. Congratulations. ghosttiger630495@gmail.com

Too bad the Rebels don’t have a MOREADVANCEDCOMMENTSYSTEM where I could DELETE this post later.

Kenny could come out as gay – of course, it would explain a lot. But to call it a brilliant move that will put him in 24 Sussex (or the Premiership of Alberta) may prove to be shortsighted. For one thing, Kenney will have a lot to reconcile with that admission of his sexuality and his social-conservative credentials. He is Pro-Life – there is no question about that. He is a devout Roman Catholic, so he is on the anti-abortion side of the debate. That and he is also anti-death penalty, which keeps him in line with the Vatican’s position of that issue. He is also on side with the Vatican on the issue of same-sex marriage, and he has been public with his opposition to it. While he has stepped along with Harper’s centrist positions, which is the biggest strike against Harper with social-conservatives, Kenney has maintained his support for the social-conservative position on these issues. But can a gay Kenney win the social-conservative argument and bear all the slings and arrows that will come his way? I honestly don’t think he can without being called a hypocrite. And I don’t think social-conservatives will back him either. So, where does that leave Kenney? It leaves him being called an asexual and, honestly, that’s kind of weird in most people’s minds. Unless there is some change in Kenney’s life (marriage and family) he is unelectable for any higher office.

Provide my email address? So you can sign me up for all kinds of spam? I was born at night, but not last night you sneaky little troll. Learn how to Twitter. It’s not that hard. You seem like such a smart cuck.

Sheldon Berg, we don’t need more corrupt “bipartisanship”, OK? We need conservatives to show you just how BAD human beings can be and start kicking some liberal ass. Grow a pair of balls and stop being such an insufferable long-winded cuck.

AB Patriot, I like your predictions. They are bold and I agree that Ambrose is a little bundle of corrupt “bipartisan” treachery just waiting to stick the blade in her constituents’ backs. Well done in playing it out to a very reasonable conclusion. The Portuguese thing was a particularly insightful touch, and highly believable. But I have a question for you about Kenney. What if he stuns everyone and comes out as gay? Does that help or hurt his political career? I think it would be a brilliant maneuver that could put him into 24 Sussex. What say you?

Since I am always right, I will be bold and present my predictions leading up to the 2019 election.

These predictions can be considered to be extremely accurate – so accurate that if you bet money on them, you will become extraordinarily wealthy.

Rona Ambrose will retire before the next election. Though she is saying all the right platitudes about leading the rebuilding the CPC, she has no intention of seriously doing so. If anything, she will be cultivating her relationship with the Liberals. The upcoming Rio Olympics will be interesting, as Ambrose will be attending as one of the representatives of the Canadian Government. While in Rio, she will be there in support of the Liberal Government as she builds her social-networking profile. She is fluent in Portuguese so he will be a popular member of the Prime Minister’s entourage. This will serve as one example of Ambrose planning for life after politics. She will retire before the next election. Securing her pension, she will take a Liberal Government appointment and become an ambassador – maybe to Brazil.

Stephen Harper will retire and be appointed to the Senate by Trudeau. There are vacancies in the Senate and they cannot go unfilled forever. While Trudeau has been humming and hawing about reforming the Senate, there is little he can do. It will be business as usual; but in a show of non-partisanship, Trudeau will appoint Harper to the Upper House, for a lifetime of invaluable service to Canadians and their institutions. Harper will graciously accept the appointment, because who turns down the Senate?

Jason Kenney will not become Premier of Alberta. Though he name has circulated on social-media that he is interested, it will not happen. Why? He’s a 47 year old male virgin. Unless he pulls a Peter MacKay, gets married, and starts a family within the next two years, any chance of higher public office will not happen. His name will be circulated as a potential leader of the CPC, but it will not happen…because he’s a 47 year old male virgin. Kenny will not seek reelection. By the time he leaves office, he will be collecting his pension and working in the US as a lobbyist, where no one will know that he’s a 51 year old male virgin.

The more I read the comments of Conservatives and Liberals the more I believe there is a serious problem of understanding on both sides. I identify as a conservative. I do believe in many liberal principles, at least traditional liberal principles and values. It was pointed out to me that one of the fundamental questions a person has to ask and answer for themselves is, ‘are human beings basically good or basically bad’. If you answer the question that human beings are basically good you will fall into the Liberal/progressive camp. If you answer the question that human beings are basically bad than you will most likely be a conservative. To me the answer to the question is self-evident and the answer is we are basically bad. This does not mean that human beings do not have the capacity to do good. It means that we find it much easier to be narcissistic, self-indulgent, and take the path of least resistance. We are at our core basically bad. History is full of examples that make this plain. Our laws and prisons show this to be true. Not to mention, if we are honest with ourselves, that we are all guilty of our own basically bad nature. Good people tend to know they are bad but utterly bad people have no knowledge of right and wrong.
Why do I bring this up? Culture precedes politics I am told. Ezra has mentioned that as well as Brian Lilley (I believe). I agree with that. What we believe will determine the society we will have. It will determine the kind of discourse that will take place. In my humble opinion it doesn’t matter what you call yourself it is the principles that are very important. My frustration is that I don’t think most people on either side really know what they are arguing about half the time. If they did I think the conversations would be very different.
I would like to encourage my fellow conservatives, and for that matter those on the left as well, to think about what you stand for and why? Let me offer this as a final thought: don’t liberals and conservatives have an awful lot that they agree on? Don’t both left and right want maximum prosperity for everyone? Don’t both sides want maximum freedom and a just society? Don’t left and right both want healthy societies? I believe the answer is yes. So what is it that we disagree on? It is something far more fundamental and profound than politics. This is what no one wants to talk about or is afraid to talk about. We are spinning our wheels until we get to the bottom of things.